The weight of his choice lingered like a blade hovering over his throat. No matter which path he took, there would be consequences. He had survived the pit, risen in the ranks, and earned a name—but names meant nothing if you were dead.
The city didn't favor those who hesitated.
Mira, Callen, and Finn sat across from him in the dim light of their hideout. The silence was thick, anticipation laced with tension.
"You're taking too long," Mira finally said, her voice sharp. "Decide."
He exhaled. "If I accept Kaela's offer, we gain protection. Resources. A chance to expand beyond the arena."
Callen scoffed. "And you become her pet."
Finn shifted uncomfortably. "She did say people would come after you if you didn't pick a side."
Mira leaned forward. "Then we fight. We survive like we always have."
He looked at them all, the closest thing to family he had in this city. They had stuck with him when he had nothing. They had bled for him, trained him, and pushed him to be better. And now, their fate was tangled with his.
[Final Choice: Accept Kaela's Offer or Forge Your Own Path]
He clenched his fists. "We make our own way."
Mira smirked. "Good answer."
Callen cracked his knuckles. "Then we need to be ready."
That night, the city breathed differently. The streets were quieter, the air tense with an unspoken threat. He knew that word of his rejection would spread fast. Kaela wasn't the type to take defiance lightly.
As he walked through the alleys with Mira and Callen, every shadow felt deeper. Every figure lurking in the corners felt like a potential knife waiting to sink into his back.
Then it happened.
A flicker of movement—a whisper of steel cutting through the air. Instinct screamed at him.
He ducked.
The dagger missed his throat by inches, slicing through the air as he spun to face his attacker. A hooded figure emerged from the darkness, eyes cold and calculating.
[Survival Instinct Activated: Assassination Attempt Detected]
Mira reacted first. A flash of steel, her blade clashing against the assassin's in a burst of sparks. Callen moved next, his fists swinging toward the attacker's ribs, but the assassin was fast—too fast.
A second blade appeared, slashing toward him. He barely dodged, feeling the sting of steel graze his side.
Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth. No hesitation.
He struck forward, feinting left before driving his fist into the assassin's stomach. The hooded figure staggered but recovered quickly, spinning into another attack.
[Adaptive Growth: Combat Reflexes Improved]
Mira snarled, her dagger flashing in a deadly arc. The assassin blocked, but it gave Callen the opening he needed. His fist connected with the attacker's jaw, sending them sprawling.
A second assassin appeared.
Finn shouted from the rooftops, warning them just in time. The second figure lunged from above, aiming for Callen's back.
He moved without thinking, tackling Callen out of the way as the new assailant's blade dug into the ground where Callen had been standing.
Blood dripped down his arm. His breath came fast, heart hammering. They were outnumbered.
And then, the whistle.
A signal in the night. The assassins paused, glancing at each other. A silent understanding passed between them.
Then, as quickly as they had appeared, they vanished into the darkness.
Silence fell over the alley.
Finn climbed down from his vantage point. "What the hell was that?"
Mira wiped blood from her blade. "A warning."
Callen looked at him, his expression grim. "Kaela's testing you."
He exhaled, staring at the spot where the assassins had disappeared.
[Quest Updated: Defy Kaela's Rule – Prepare for Retaliation]
No turning back now.
They had made their choice.
And war was coming.